KZN FLOOD WRAP | eThekwini mayor to plan a way forward for businesses ruined by floods

April 21 2022 - 17:31

EFF donates R500k to KZN flood victims 'for all nationalities and races'

The EFF has donated half a million rand towards helping flood victims in Durban.

Party leader Julius Malema on Thursday visited an informal settlement in Durban, where more than 50 homes were washed away

At KwaMsuthu near Reservoir Hills, Malema met families who had lost loved ones, homes and other possessions, including identification documents.

At a church where families are being housed, the EFF leader handed over blankets, mattresses and food.

April 21 2022 - 13:51

eThekwini mayor to plan a way forward for businesses ruined by floods

eThekwini mayor Mxolisi Kaunda will meet business on Friday to discuss the loss of hundreds of millions of rand after the devastating floods that hit KwaZulu-Natal last week. 

Kaunda’s office said he would meet affected stakeholders to plan a way to restore services and bulk infrastructure.

“eThekwini has been one of the hardest hit districts with 111 wards affected and more than 400 lives lost. The floods have adversely impacted businesses.

“The loss to the eThekwini GDP by April 14 is estimated at R737m , excluding the replacement value of property worth billions of rand”.

April 21 2022 - 13:35

Premier to visit families left destitute by floods in North West

North West premier Kaobitsa Bushy Maape was on Thursday due to visit Deelpan village where “hundreds of families” have been left destitute by recent floods.

Deelpan, which falls under the Tswaing Local Municipality, was hit by torrential rains more than a month ago which displaced more than 180 members of the community. Heavy rains have now caused more flooding in the area.

April 21 2022 - 13:30

Will the R8k KZN rebuild voucher from government be enough? Here's what it will get you

The government is considering immediate relief measures to help flood victims in KwaZulu-Natal. 

Sunday Times reported  government was considering appointing an independent agency to manage the billions of rand earmarked for disaster relief in the province. 

Other steps include erecting temporary housing units on stands where it is safe to rebuild damaged homes and giving affected families R8,000 vouchers to purchase building materials.

Torrential rain and landslides hit the province last week, destroying homes and infrastructure and displacing thousands of people.

April 21 2022 - 07:42

Tshwane search and rescue technicians deployed to support disaster relief in KZN

A team of Tshwane emergency services search and rescue technicians has been deployed to KwaZulu-Natal as part of the Urban Search and Rescue SA (USAR-SA01) team to support disaster relief efforts in the flood-stricken province. 

This follows the declaration of a national state of disaster by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday.

Tshwane Emergency Services Department spokesperson Thabo Charles Mabaso said the deployment of the team and resources was authorised by the acting city manager of Tshwane, Mmaseabata Mutlaneng, on Wednesday afternoon. 

April 21 2022 - 06:15

At least R91m needed to help KZN farmers recover from flood

It will cost at least R91.1m to replant eroded crops and repair damaged infrastructure caused by the heavy rains in KwaZulu-Natal. 

The SA Farmers Development Association (Safda), which has been collecting information from farmers, released a  preliminary report showing some of the effects the floods had on farmers.

It said more than R49m will be required for replanting crops and R42m for repairing infrastructure.

“This report shows a number of growers affected as information keeps coming all day and every day,” Safda said.

April 21 2022 - 06:00

‘A child? I don’t want to see ...’ The emotional toll of recoveries in KZN

High-pitched yelps ring out from K9 Zeus as police search and rescue (SAR) members quickly shift their undivided attention to the vicinity of the five-year-old Belgian Shepherd.

A foul smell fills the air as the wind changes course amid calls from K9 Zeus which reverberate through the gorge of uMzinyathi Falls, north of Durban. 

“Soek hom, soek hom ...” Zeus’s handler, a seasoned police member from the Middelburg K9 unit, calls out. 

Situated in a ditch, surrounded by a mass of broken and flattened underbrush lay the lifeless body of a child.